Measuring  dispenser



Filed June 25, 1957 2,899,115 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 [ice MEASURNG DISPENSER Gustave O. Matter, Portland, Oreg.

Application June 25, 1957, Serial No.'66'7,776

` Clams. (Cl. 222-455) My invention relates to measuring dispensers -of the type adapted to dispense a measured Iamount of a freeflowing substance, including granulated and powdered substance, from a container.

An object of this invention is in a dispenser which can regulate the amount of substance dispensed 1from its container.

Another object is in a dispenser wherein direct flow of contents from its container is interrupted.

Another object is in a dispenser adapted to allow a pre-determined amount Vof granulated or powdered substance to flow from its container.

Another object is in a dispenser adapted to be easily attached securely to a container and easily detached therefrom.

Another object is in a dispenser made attachable to a container in a manner to hold the dispenser against 'the walls of the container.

Another object is in a dispenser adaptable to prevent communication between the inside and the outside of a container to which it is attached.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in and from the following specification consid- `ered in connection with the accompanying drawings,

which are for purpose of illustration and not intended as a definition of the invention, the invention being dened in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts -throughout the several views:

Fig. I is a top plan view yof the dispenser attached to a corner of a container, a portion of which is broken away.

Fig. II is a `vertical section on line II-II of Fig. I.

Fig. vIII is a vertical section similar to Fig. II buto'f the dispenser detached from the container.

Fig. IV is a 1horizontal section -on line IV-IV of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a top plan View of a portion of Fig. III.

`Fig. Vl is a vertical section `the Vsame as Fig. II but shown inverted to dispensing position.

Fig. VII is a top plan view Vof a rcorner portion of the container and showing the opening, in the container, for insertion of the dispenser.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, a container 1 has a top wal-l 2, an end wall 3 and a side wa'll 4, the junction of walls 3 and 4 lforms a corner :5.

The dispenser comprises a measuring compartment 6 which is defined by lower wall 7, upper wall l8, back wall 9 and a portion of side walls 10, the junction of side walls 10 forming a corner 11.

An outlet conduit 12 is defined by `a portion of side walls 10 at their juncture v11 andby an inner wall '13.

Measuring compartment upper wal-l 8 is spaced from corner 11 to form outlet passageway 14 and upper wall 8 is also spaced from measuring compartment back rwall 9 to form inlet passageway 15. The wall 8 forms an element of a sliding proportioning unit vembodying a plate 416 positioned :between the two side walls 10 and which plate 16 extends `upward 'from the `upper wall 8 and is joined thereto at its edge along passageway 14. Plate 16 extends slidably along outlet inner wall 13 and a rib 17 extends lengthwise of and from plate 16 and has its lower portion 18 extended and forming a runner contacting measuring compartment back wall 9. Upper wall 8 with its component parts as plate 1-6, rib 17 and its lower runner portion 18 are made longitudinally adjustable vbetween measuring compartment inner wall 9 and outlet conduit back wall 13 as by nut 19 `attached to rib v17 and screw 20 which terminates in a head21 and is freely rotatably supported as hereinafter set lforth.,

A supply compartment 22 is defined by side walls 10, partly =by measuring compartment 'back wall 9 and by plate l16 and outlet conduit inner wall 13 and top plate 23.

Outlet conduit 12 extends upward through the top plate 23 which is in contact with the Atop wall 2 Aof the vcontainer when the dispenser is inserted into the opening 24 in the `top wall 2 of the container and the top plate 23 extends beyond the edge 25 of opening 24 and has downward projecting walls 26 which are spaced from side walls 10 to permit the upper edge of container walls 3 and 4 to t therebetween.

A downward 4extending leg 27 is secured at its gupper end 28 to the corner junction of downward projecting walls 26 with its lower end 29 adapted to engage ,the outer side of the container and hold the container walls 3 and 4 against the outer sides 0f the walls 10 of the dispenser.

A resilient member 30 has one vend secured to a head 31 which is revolvably mounted in top plate 23. IIhe free end `of member 30 is adapted upon rotation Vof head 31, to engage the lower side of container top Iwall 2 and hold it in close contact with top plate 23.

In use the dispenser, with the resilient member 30 in the position shown in Figs. III and V, is inserted into the opening 24 in the top wall 2 of a container 1 and with the top-plate 23 down against Vthe top wall 2 the head 31 is rotated to move the free end of the resilient member 30 under and in engagement with the top wall 2 as shown in Figs. I, II and VI which holds the dispenser against the top wall 2 of the container and the'end 29 of the leg 27 bears against the outer side of the corner 5 and holds 'the dispenser against the side wall 4, end wall 3 and corner 5 ofthe container.

With the top wall V8 vof the measuring compartment in position to dispense a desired amount of contents from the container and with the container in a normally upright position, as shown in Fig. II, contents will gravitate from the supply compartment 22 through passageway '15 'into measuring compartment 6.

When the container and its dispenser lis inverted `to a position as shown in Fig. VI the contents ofthe measuring compartment 6 will -gravitate through outlet passageway 14 and lout of outlet conduit 12 and contents of the :container will lgravitate into the ysupply compartment 22.. When the container is placed in its normal upright position contents ofthe lsupply compartment Y22 will again gravitate into the measuring compartment 6 by way of inlet passageway 15.

To vary vthe vamount of material measured by the dispenser the screw 20 is rotated by grasping and turning the head 21. The upper end of the screw 20 lis unthreaded, 'as shown, so that the screw will rotate YJfreely or swivel in the opening -in the `plate '23 'through which `it extends `and in so turning the screw, -it will cause 1the nut 1,9 to be Vthreadably moved lengthwise of the-dispenser `so as Ato shift or `alter theposition jof -the WallS in the measuring 'compartment A6 and thus increaseaor Vdecrease the quantity of iiuent material which may be collected in the measuring compartment 6 between the side walls 10, the back wall 9, upper wall 8 and lower wall 7.

-In order thatthe material collected in the supply compartment may be guided to and pass out through the inlet passage into the measuring compartment 6 when the dispenser is turned upright, an inclined wall 8a is disposed across the angle between the plate 16 and the wall 8. Thus it will be seen that the material in the supply compartment will flow down across the top surface of the inclined wall 8a and through the inlet passageway.

While the specification sets forth in detail the construction of the device, deviation from the construction shown may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In view of' the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is deemed that a clear understanding of the invention will be apparent Therefore a more detailed prising two vertical side walls joined along one vertical edge thereof, a horizontal top plate joined to the top of said vertical side walls, a three-sided lower wall spaced below said top plate and joined on two sides to said two vertical side walls, a back wall spaced from the juncture of said two vertical side walls and extending upward from the other side of said lower wall and between the said two vertical side walls and joined thereto with the upper edge of said back wall spaced below said top plate, an inner wall depending from said top plate and extending between the said two vertical side walls and joined thereto, said inner wall being spaced inward from said back wall and from the juncture of said two vertical side walls, the lower end of said inner wall being below the upper edge of said back wall and spaced upward from said lower wall, a horizontal upper wall extending between the said two vertical side walls and extending from the lower end of said inner wall toward said back wall with one side edge of said upper wall being spaced from said back wall and the opposite side edge being spaced from the juncture of the said two vertical side walls, a supply compartment defined by said two vertical side walls, said top plate, said upper wall, said inner wall -and an upper portion of said back wall, a material passageway leading into said supply compartment is provided between the said two vertical side walls, said top plate and the upper edge of said back wall, a measuring comn partment below said supply compartment is defined by Asaid two vertical side walls, said back wall, said lower Vwall and said upper wall, an inlet passageway providing communication from said supply compartment to said measuring compartment, said inlet passageway being bounded by the said two vertical side walls, said back wall and the side edge of said upper wall spaced from said back wall, an outlet passageway bounded by said two vertical side walls andvthat side edge of said upper wall which is spaced from the junction of the said two vertical side walls and is opposite the side edge along said inlet passageway, said outlet passageway providing communication from said measuring compartment into an .outlet conduit above said measuring compartment and which is defined by the said two vertical side walls and said inner wall and leads out through said top plate.

2, A dispenser for a containensraid dispensferucomprising a measuring compartment defined by two side walls adjacent the inside of two walls of the container and by a lower wall and a horizontal upper wall and a back wall, one side edge of said horizontal upper wall being spaced from said side walls to define an outlet passageway therebetween, an inner wall joining said side walls and extending from said outlet passageway upwardly to the upper extremity of said dispenser and defining, with said side walls, an outlet conduit communicating from said measuring compartment to the exterior of the dispenser and the associated container, a supply compartment defined by said two side walls above said measuring compartment and by a portion of said inner wall and by an upper portion of said measuring compartment back wall by said horizontal upper wall and by a top plate secured to said side walls at the upper end thereof, an opposite side edge of said horizontal upper wall and said measuring compartment back wall being spaced apart Vto define an inlet passageway therebetween, said inlet passageway providing communication from said supply compartment to said measuring compartment, means for holding said top plate fiat upon the outside of said container top wall, said means including resilient means operative through said top plate and adapted to engage the inside of said container top wall,

3. A dispenser for a container, said dispenser comprising a measuring compartment defined by two side walls adjacent the inside of two walls of the container and by a lower wall and a horizontal upper wall and a back wall, one side edge of said horizontal upper wall being spaced from said side walls to define an outlet passageway therebetween, an inner wall joining said side walls and extending from'said outlet passageway upwardly to the upper extremity of said dispenser and defining, with said side walls, an outlet conduit communicating from said measuring compartment to the exterior of the dispenser and the associated container, a supply compartment defined by said two side walls above said measuring compartment and by a portion of said inner wall and by an upper portion of said measuring compartment back wall by said horizontal upper wall and by a top plate secured to said side walls at the upper end thereof, an opposite side edge of said horizontal upper wall and said measuring compartment back wall being spaced apart to define an inlet passageway therebetween, said inlet passageway providing communication from said supply compartment to said measuring compartment, said top plate being provided with downward projecting walls spaced from said two side walls.

4. A dispenser for a container, said dispenser comprising a measuring compartment defined by two side Ywalls adjacent the inside of two walls of the container and by a lower wall and a horizontal upper wall and a back wall, one side edge of said horizontal upper wall being spaced from said side walls to define an outlet passageway therebetween, an inner wall joining said side Vwalls and extending from said outlet passageway upwardly to the upper extremity of said dispenser and defining, with'said side walls, an outlet conduit communicating from said measuring compartment to the exterior of the dispenser and the associated container, a supply corn- -partment defined by said two side walls above said measuring compartment and by a portion of said inner wall and by an upper portion of said measuring compartment back wall by said horizontal upper wall and by a top plate secured to said side walls at the upper end thereof, an opposite side edge of said horizontal upper wall and said measuring compartment back wall being spaced apart to define an inlet passageway therebetween, said inlet passageway providing communication from said supply compartment to said measuring compartment, and with an elongate leg secured at one end to said top plate in substantially parallel relation with and upon the outer side of said measuring compartment side walls and having its other end adapted to hold the said two side walls of said measuring compartmentagainst .theeinner sides of said two walls of said container.

5. A dispenser for a container, said dispenser comprising a measuring compartment delinedby two `sidewalls adjacent the inside of `two walls 'of the container and by a lower wall and a `horizontal upper wall `and a back wall, one side edge of said horizontal upper wall being spaced from said side walls to `deiine'antoutletpassageway therebetween, an inner wall joining said side walls ,and extending from said outlet'passageway upwardly to the upper extremity of said dispenser and defining, with said side walls, an outlet conduit communicating from said measuring compartmnet to the exterior of the dispenser and the associated container, a supply compartment dened by said two side walls above said measuring compartment and by a portion of said inner wall and by an upper portion of said measuring compartment back wall by said horizontal upper wall and by a top plate secured to said side walls at the upper end thereof, an opposite side edge of said horizontal upper wall and said measuring compartment back wall bieng spaced apart to define an inlet passageway therebetween, said inlet passageway providing communication from said supply compartment to said measuring compartment, said measuring compartment upper wall being movable longitudinally of the supply compartment to regulate the space between said upper wall and said lower wall.

6. A measuring dispenser adapted for insertion into a receptacle through a wall thereof; said dispenser comprising an elongate hollow body having spaced longitudinal walls, a lower wall joining said longitudinal walls and a top plate at the opopsite end of the body from the lower wall, one of said longitudinal walls having a top edge terminating short of said top plate to provide a material admission opening to the body, an inner wall extending longitudinally in the body from said top plate and joining two longitudinal walls to form with the joined walls a material discharge conduit opening through the top plate, said inner wall terminating below said top edge of said one of the longitudinal walls and short of said lower wall and being in spaced relation with said one of the longitudinal walls, the hollow body below said inner wall forming a material measuring compartment, a transverse upper wall for said measuring compartment extending from said inner wall toward and terminating short of the s-aid one longitudinal wall to provide a material inlet passage forming a communication between said material admission opening and said material measuring compartment, and means supporting and for moving said transverse upper wall longitudinally of the body along the inner side of said one longitudinal wall to vary the measured quantity of material passing through said inlet passage.

7. A measuring dispenser adapted for insertion into a receptacle through a Wall thereof; said dispenser cornprising an elongate hollow body having spaced longitudinal walls, a lower wall joining said longitudinal walls and Ia top plate at the opposite end of the body from the lower wall, one of said longitudinal Walls having a top edge terminating short of said top plate to provide a material admission opening to the body, an inner wall extending longitudinally in the body from said top plate and joining two longitudinal walls to form with the joined walls a material discharge conduit opening through the top plate, said inner wall terminating below said top edge of said one of the longitudinal walls and short of said lower wall and being in spaced relation with said one of the longitudinal walls, the hollow body below said inner wall forming a material measuring compartment, a transverse upper wall for said measuring compartment extending from said inner wall toward and terminating short of the said one longitudinal wall to provide a material inlet passage forming a communication between said material admission opening and said material measuring compartment, and means supporting and for moving said transverse upper wall longitudinally of the body `along the inner side of said one longitudinal -wall to vary the measuredquantity ofmaterial passing through saidinlet passage, an elongate leg secured at one end to the top plate and extending longitudinally Iof the l'outer `side of certain of the :longitudinal walls .and adaptedto grip a Vreceptacle wall lying between the leg and the said certain of the .longitudinal walls when the dispenser is inserted into a receptacle.

8. A measurng dispenser adapted for insertion into a receptacle through a wall thereof; said dispenser comprising an elongate hollow body having spaced longitudinal walls, a lower wall joining said longitudinal walls and a top plate at the opposite end of the body from the lower wall, one of said longitudinal walls having a top edge terminating short of said top plate to provide a material admission opening to the body, an inner wall extending longitudinally in the body from said top plate and joining two longitudinal walls to form with the joined walls a material discharge conduit opening through the top plate, said inner wall terminating below said top edge of said one of the longitudinal walls and short of said lower wall and being in spaced relation with said one of the longitudinal walls, the hollow body below said inner wall forming a material measuring compartment, a transverse upper wall for said measuring compartment extending from said inner wall toward and terminating short of the said one longitudinal wall to provide a material inlet passage forming a communication between said material admission opening and said material measuring compartment, and means supporting and for moving said transverse upper wall longitudinally of the body along the inner side of said one longitudinal Wall to vary the measured quantity of material passing through said inlet passage, said supporting means comprising an elongate plate disposed for sliding movement against the side of said inner wall adjacent to said one .longitudinal wall, and the means for moving the said transverse upper wall being operatively coupled between the elongate plate and said top plate.

9. A measuring dispenser adapted for insertion into a receptacle through a wall thereof; said dispenser cornprising an elongate hollow body having spaced longitudinal walls, a lower wall joining said longitudinal walls and a top plate at the opposite end of the body from the lower wall, one of said longitudinal walls having a top edge terminating short of said top plate to provide a material admission opening to the body, an inner wall extending longitudinally in the body from said top plate and joining two longitudinal walls to form with the joined walls a material discharge conduit opening through the top plate, said inner wall terminating below said top edge of said one of the longitudinal walls and short of said lower wall and being in spaced relation with said one of the longitudinal walls, the hollow body below said inner wall forming a material measuring compartment, a transverse upper wall for said measuring compartment extending from said inner wall toward and terminating short of the said one longitudinal wall to provide a material inlet passage forming a communication between said material admission opening and said material measuring compartment, and means supporting and for moving said transverse upper wall longitudinally of the body along the inner side of said one longitudinal wall to vary the measured quantity of material passing through said inlet passage, the said supporting and moving means for said transverse upper wall comprising an elongate plate slidably positioned against the side of said inner wall adjacent to said one longitudinal wall, -a nut secured to said elongate plate, a screw threadably engaged in the nut and having an end extending to and through said top plate, and means connected with the said end of said screw for rotating the latter to effect longitudinal movement of the elongate plate and the transverse upper wall joined thereto.

10. Theinventionfaccording to claim 9, wherein the said lower wall is disposed at a downward inclination from the said'one longitudinal wall toward the opposite walls and said transverse upper wall supporting and moving means being adapted to extend .the transverse upper wall downwardly and into engagement along one of its edges with said inclined lower wall whereby to effect the closing of said material inlet passage.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Loveland Aug. 20, 1918 Moore Ian. 13, 1920 Spilo May 11, 1943 Mertens Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy May 5, 1937 

